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WHERE DO WRITERS LIKE ME STAND

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Santwana Chatterjee
from Kolkata |

I wanted to self publish my favourite poems for children and contacted a relatively new publisher 24by7 publishing.com

To test waters I first let them publish a black and white book of adult poems "Nari tumi k" and I was satisfied

Next I contacted them and with the proposal of publishing my children poem book with sketches that were made by Sri Tapomitra Bandyopadhyay

They requested me to make it a colored book for which I would have to pay INR 23440/-

And they would provide me

(a) option of choosing my colored cover page created by their inhouse artist from three samples

(b) they would make the sketches provided in mono colors

(c) I was entitled to three to four illustrations proved by their inhouse artist

(d) I would get 10 free copies

(e) 10 colored posters to be displayed by them at the coming book fair

(e) 96 colored personal card for advertisement

(f) they promised to provide two drawings with each poem one by Topomitra and other my colored drawing with computer

And by no means they would take a single step without getting my written consent

What they did

They sent me a printed book without taking my consent about the cover page

Only the sketches were printed while they called for the entire file of computer drawing from me

Apart from the title page and dedication page the whole book was black and white only the first letter of each poem was Red (?)

The title of poems were highlighted with odd colors

One of the poem was incomplete and the next two were totally omitted

This thin book of 92 pages are priced at INR 699/-

After consultation they made some changes like

The pages of the whole book were replaced with lightly colored pages

My colored computer drawings were taken into consideration

All the poems were included

Ten free copies , 96 cards and 10 colored posters provided but unfortunately

 they remain unused as they have not booked any stall at the bookfair

In the reprinted book a poem has been unnecessarily edited so that it has become meaningless and a jargon of unrelated words

The book is still priced INR 699/-

By the way this is my seventh selfpublished book

Where do writers like me stand

Replies 1 to 11 of 11

Aditya Jha
from New Delhi, India |

I've faced similar problem. I came in contact with CyberWit publishers and sent them the manuscript of the book I'm in process of writing. After requesting me to send my complete manuscript (90% complete), they said that they can go ahead with publishing the book and THEN told me that I've to pay 26,000 for the publishing. 

Having said the above, my friends tell me that there are publishers who are willing to publish for free but only I haven't come in contact with any. Tongue out

Santwana Chatterjee
from Kolkata |

I made a mistake, as it was a Bangla book I did not go to Pothi.com who are thoroughly professional and honest and I have published three books with Pothi and I even received Royalty check☺️☺️

Rightly duped by choosing a wrong one

RioZee
from Out of this yEt in this World |

True, we learn by mistakes, but keep the talent going. One day world see's it and you never know.

RioZee
from Out of this yEt in this World |

I too am writing a book. In english. I will be needing guidance as well.

The Sorcerer
from Mumbai |

Why not sell it in the form of ebook?

Santwana Chatterjee
from Kolkata |

I would have been glad to but am not sure whether the publisher will be agreeable to the idea
But I will ask them , thanks for the idea😊

Parichita
from Mumbai |

I'm not a published writer. But I have been told that any publisher which asks you to pay is not worth your time. It even makes sense. They are already earning from us in the way of royalties, so why pay them to publish?

Santwana Chatterjee
from Kolkata |

Perhaps u r correct but these publisher have the means and advantage of printing , publishing and marketing your book. Unless u r already a known author u will not find any buyer on yr own and ultimately a writer writes only to be read

Judy
from Gurgaon |

@ Santwana  Please guide me with the process for publishing a book. Thanks!

Santwana Chatterjee
from Kolkata |

Judy please search for a reliable publisher first and confirm about authenticity in the net

Arvind Passey
from Delhi |

The question worth asking is: Does vanity publishing stand?

And the answer is... No, it remains sitting in some dark and dingy cul-de-sac and deserves the anonymity it manages to award even deserving authors with.

So, my friend, you really need to STOP spending money to get books published. If what you write is good enough, some good publisher will accept... and if it isn't good enough, you can still upload it all on your blog and get hundreds of readers for free.

:)

Santwana Chatterjee
from Kolkata |

Publishing own writing is a passion n I think I would go on with publishing my work but choose my publisher woth care
24by7 or Adamya publishers now silent on their part and whatever I ask them they choose to ignore

As such e-book option in under water as also reducing the price sujjestion

On top of that they are happy to remain silent on my emails and msg for the two free review that they promised

BECHARA WRITER ✏️📒